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Matter of Krohn v. Berne-Knox-Westerlo

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Dec 20, 1990
168 A.D.2d 826 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)

Summary

In Matter of Krohn v Berne-Knox-Westerlo Cent. School Dist. (168 A.D.2d 826), we held that failure to allege a reasonable excuse for the delay is not fatal to an application for leave to serve a late notice of claim when the school district and its insurer had immediate notice of the accident and an adequate opportunity to investigate, and there is no indication of prejudice to the school district.

Summary of this case from Matter of Ireland v. Hinkle

Opinion

December 20, 1990

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Montgomery County (White, J.).


On May 27, 1988, petitioner Thomas D. Krohn was injured when the vehicle he was riding in was involved in an accident with a vehicle owned by respondent Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District and operated by its employee. On August 25, 1988, just prior to expiration of the one-year and 90-day Statute of Limitations (see, General Municipal Law § 50-i), petitioners made this application for leave to serve a late notice of claim pursuant to General Municipal Law § 50-e (5). Supreme Court granted the application and the school district appeals.

We affirm. It is our view that Supreme Court acted within its discretion in granting the application. The record establishes that the school district's vehicle was damaged in the accident and, in fact, towed from the scene, that a police accident report was prepared, and that the school district and, assumedly, its insurance carrier had immediate notice of the accident and an adequate opportunity to investigate it. Moreover, there is no indication that the school district has been prejudiced by the late filing of the notice of claim. Under the circumstances of this case, petitioners' failure to allege a reasonable excuse for the delay is not fatal (see, General Municipal Law § 50-e; Matter of Fast v. County of Broome, 151 A.D.2d 930, 931; Matter of Zbryski v. City of New York, 147 A.D.2d 705, 706, lv. dismissed, and lv. denied 74 N.Y.2d 825).

Order affirmed, with costs. Mahoney, P.J., Kane, Casey, Weiss and Mercure, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Matter of Krohn v. Berne-Knox-Westerlo

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Dec 20, 1990
168 A.D.2d 826 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)

In Matter of Krohn v Berne-Knox-Westerlo Cent. School Dist. (168 A.D.2d 826), we held that failure to allege a reasonable excuse for the delay is not fatal to an application for leave to serve a late notice of claim when the school district and its insurer had immediate notice of the accident and an adequate opportunity to investigate, and there is no indication of prejudice to the school district.

Summary of this case from Matter of Ireland v. Hinkle
Case details for

Matter of Krohn v. Berne-Knox-Westerlo

Case Details

Full title:In the Matter of THOMAS D. KROHN et al., Respondents, v…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

Date published: Dec 20, 1990

Citations

168 A.D.2d 826 (N.Y. App. Div. 1990)
563 N.Y.S.2d 958

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